After all, damn it, what does being in love mean if you can't trust a person.
Evelyn WaughRead
His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone as punctilious as himself the correspondence ended only with death.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the extreme politeness and formality in social interactions, particularly regarding gratitude.
Evelyn Waugh's quote illustrates a character whose obsession with polite correspondence makes him overly meticulous. This extravagant courtesy not only demonstrates his adherence to social norms but also points to the unending nature of such formalities, suggesting that relationships defined by strict etiquette may lack genuine warmth and connection.
Themes
CourtesyPolitenessGratitudeRelationshipsEtiquette
In practice
Example use cases
In a wedding speech, to emphasize the importance of acknowledging gifts and kindness.
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That was the change in her from ten years ago; that, indeed, was her reward, this haunting, magical sadness which spoke straight to the heart and struck silence; it was the completion of her beauty.
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